Endorsing Endorsements? by Joy Margetts

 ‘Compassionate, warm, moving and so VERY funny.’

‘This is properly brilliant. The pages fly by and I just can’t stop smiling.’

‘A charming, clever, debut.’

No, these aren’t mine. Not written by me, and sadly not written about my books either.

I am in the process of getting people to endorse my soon to be published novel. It involves asking people very nicely to read a PDF manuscript, only partially edited, and give me their views on it. In a line or two. Words that they won’t mind being attributed to them and printed within the front cover of said book. I find the whole business uncomfortable, and positively terrifying. Especially as they are among the few people to have actually read the thing. What if they don’t like it, and cannot in all good conscience recommend it? It’s a possibility after all.

Thankfully, the people I have approached have so far been generous and kind. I am already so encouraged to be in receipt of some lovely words of endorsement for The Pilgrim. These will help in marketing the book, I am told, before it is even printed.

It got me to thinking about endorsements, and their worth. I know many books are published without them. A book I read recently had ten endorsements inside the front covers, another had sixteen. Was I supposed to read them all? I’m afraid I didn’t. Then there is the book that the quotes above come from. The Thursday Murder Club, for those of you who don’t know it, is a ‘record breaking million copy bestseller’ debut novel by Richard Osman, a TV personality here in the UK. It is a great book. I felt I had to read to see what all the fuss was about. And to work out whether it reached its bestseller status because it was written by a celebrity. Well, his fame might have helped, but it is a well written, clever, funny book too. But did the first 3 pages have to include a total of 45 endorsements? True, most were one liners… but really??

So I wonder how you feel about endorsements and their worth? Do you bother with them yourself in your own works?

I have to admit, that when they are good, they do encourage the writer, maybe even feed the ego a bit. According to my endorsees I can write a decent story…

‘Joy has a marvellous gift of storytelling.’

‘The Pilgrim is a beautifully set novel, crafted with real compassion.’

‘… a wise and engaging tale.’

That’s not to blow my own trumpet. But we all know how good it is to have the words of others to go back to when the serious self doubt comes flooding in. And to reassure you that the book might actually be worth publishing.

So endorsements, are they a good thing?

I thought I’d ask you some questions, and answer them myself! But I’d love to know your thoughts.

1.       Do you read endorsements?

Yes. Usually. Especially before buying a book I know little about.

2.       How many endorsements is too many?

I would probably stop reading after 4 or 5, so for me anything above that is probably not necessary. In fact, I find too many endorsements likely to put me off – it’s like they are trying too hard to persuade me its worth reading.

3.       Does it matter who writes the endorsement?

I do admit to glancing through to see if I recognise any names. I might be more likely to read endorsements by people whose names I recognise, or whose area of expertise fits with the genre of the book.

4.       Have you ever bought/read a book because of its endorsements?

Yes, definitely. But probably only in collaboration with other factors – such as whether I am familiar with the author, if it’s a genre/story that appeals, if it comes personally recommended.

5.       Have you even decided not to read a book because of its endorsements?

Yes. So I guess that proves that they can work either way!

Over to you…